Ha-ay Ff-olks,
Brrrrrr…it’s ff-ree-zzing out there. This cold weather has chilled me to the core and I can’t stt-opp sh-shiver-ring. Luckily for me, my caretaker is bringing me inside and covering me with plenty of blankets. Maybe there will be a fireplace inside, too! It’ll warm me up AND provide a lovely romantic setting for my Valentine’s Day dinner with HugMe Christi. It seems she can tolerate the cold much better than myself and I have no idea why.
Hay Folks!
It’s that time of the year again. No, I’m not talking about roses, chocolate, and candlelight dinners. Sunday, February 8th is the annual Horse Management Seminar and I can’t wait! This year’s topic is all about FOOD! The official title is, “Grazing Rewards and Concerns: How and Why to Care for Your Pastures”. It may not be about growing delicious doughnuts (I wish!), but moreLord-Nelson-April-2010-009 about cultivating lush pastures and maintaining healthy body weight for your horses.
Happy (belated) Birthday to all of my equine pals!
January 1st is the birthday for all race horses and many non-racing breeds of horses as well in the northern hemisphere! (For the race horses “down-under”, it’s August 1st!) Our birthdays are celebrated all over the world! Our two-legged friends even throw lavish parties and raise glasses of champagne at midnight just for us! However, the decorations are always spelled wrong. I tell my owner all the time, it’s “Happy Birthday”, not “Happy New Year’s”!
Hay there folks!
Nelson here wishing you all happy holidays! I’m sure you’re all thinking about what your horses would like for their holiday gifts and I can give you the answer in one word: COOKIES! I’ve asked my pasture mates and barn buddies what their favorite snacks are and now I’m going to share their answers with you. Nothing makes us feel more loved than some homemade treats so here are some quick and easy recipes to make your horses feel loved this season!
I can’t believe how quickly the seasons are changing, and Thanksgiving is only a few days away! For many of you, thoughts of a big, juicy turkey, warm gravy, and sweet pumpkin pie are the things that come to mind in anticipation of the holiday. I know it sure does for me! But then again, when am I NOT thinking about food?! Unfortunately, my owner says I cannot partake in the feast. He says he can’t find a chair large enough for me to sit at the table…I was slightly offended. But I won’t judge him when he has to loosen his belt after having his five-course meal…maybe…
Hay folks!
Winter is approaching and just like the acorn-scavenging squirrel, horses similarly increase their nutrient (food AND water) intake. So, it’s perfectly acceptable for me to have an extra doughnut or two…or five! For every degree the temperature drops below a horse’s critical temperature, its hay consumption must be increased by 1%. It is important that only the hay is increased because that is the food that ferments inside their body and lets off heat to keep them nice and toasty.
What’s up friends!
This is Snowdrift! My buddy Lord Nelson asked me to help him out with this post to the “Holy Hoofprints” blog. As one of the fastest Horse Hero mares in the herd at the Rutgers Equine Science Center, he knew that I’d be able to write this in a jiffy! Here goes! Read through it and check out the video of me running at almost top-speed on the treadmill!
Hi Folks,
Some horses begin to need special care due to aging soon after reaching twenty. However, many do not and are fine into their thirties. Like my human friends, aging processes in horses vary and are influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and healthcare. I was just finishing my second career working in mounted patrol on campus (also receiving that memorable NCAA football penalty!) in my late twenties and started my third career as a Professor Emeritus at the Rutgers Equine Science Center when I was in my late thirties! Now that I am in my forties (I know hard to believe right?), I seem to be having a hard time in the morning chasing after my gal HugMe Christi. Nowadays, I need more time to get warmed up because of stiffness. It was only a matter of time before I began to feel and show the signs of aging.
Bonjour, everyone!
This is Le Cheesecake, giving you the latest scoop on what’s happening at the Rutgers farm. My mentor, Lord Nelson is taking a little vacation and has asked his French mademoiselle (me!) to write his next blog post. I don’t know how he types on these itsy-bitsy keys! Keep reading to get to the VIDEO file below!
Hay Folks,The Fourth of July is almost here and that means barbecues, HOT DOGS, (Mmm mmm mmm) and of course fireworks! Fireworks are magnificent and a great way to represent my patriotism, after all, I am an AMERICAN Quarter horse. But in a horse’s mind, the loud sounds and bright lights can mean “something is attacking me!” and trigger a horse’s flight response. This can be very dangerous for the horse and people around them, too.
My first job at Rutgers University was on mounted patrol. I also carried the Scarlet Knight mascot at football games. One day I became famous when I got excited, stepped onto the field and became the only horse in history to receive a penalty in a football game! And I’m curious and mischievous! I love to be outside, so don’t ever leave my stall door open. I love all kinds of food – just about nothing at a picnic is safe. I also don’t like cheese puffs. That cheetah on the bag scares me to death! After 22 years on mounted patrol, I’m proud to be back, working for the Rutgers Equine Science Center and telling everyone what I know.
To get your very own copy of my blog, please sign-up (with parental permission) at: https://go.rutgers.edu/LordNelsonsBlog